Save thousands on your hot water system

With Federal and State Government solar hot water rebates & incentives you can save thousands
of dollars on your solar hot water system. Not only does this make it an even more affordable option,
it also means your solarised hot water system can pay for itself even quicker.

Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme (REBS)

Solar Hot Water Rebate

Since September 2007, the Australian Government has provided solar hot water rebate incentives to assist households reduce their greenhouse gas emissions & their energy bills by replacing an existing electric storage hot water system with a heat pump or solar hot water system.

The current rebate available to eligible households is the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme— Solar Hot Water Rebate (REBS), which began on 20 February 2010. Under REBS, an eligible household can receive $1,000 for installing a solar hot water system and $600 for installing a heat pump.

Eligible solar hot water and heat pump hot water systems are those registered in the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator’s Register of Solar Water Heaters as able to generate at least 20 small-scale technology certificates (STCs) (formerly Renewable Energy Certificates).

Households can sell the STCs; in most cases, they receive a financial benefit from the system supplier as an up-front discount of around $1,000.

Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STC)

Under the Federal Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), when you install an eligible system, you may claim a set number of these STCs.

The number of certificates you can claim may vary depending on your geographic location, what you’re installing, whether your installation is eligible for Solar Credits, and/or the size and capacity of the installed system. For example, a 1.5kW solar panel system in Melbourne might be eligible for a minimum 21 STCs, while a solar water heater in Hobart might be eligible for a minimum of 20 STCs.

STCs are created in the online REC Registry for correctly installed eligible solar water heaters, heat pumps, and small-scale solar panels, wind, and hydro systems.

Want to learn more?

Australian State Government Rebates

Rebates for Sustainable Living

Some Australian states offer additional incentives for householders to install solar hot water systems and living greener.
The Australian Government website Living Greener provides information, how to’s and rebate information for sustainable living.